The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-10-20
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
tiOnal Capital.

TwENTY-oNE YEARS OLD.
The 2lst anniversary of Jonn A. Rawlins
Post, No 4. GAR, Department oil the Toto
mae was celebrated last Friday night NJ Grand
Army Hall in a manner that viii long he re-
menlbered by the zoo people who thronrod the
nace There were song aud story IN sufficient
variety 10 suit all tastes The best talent IN
Washington was th re. and the fun never
tagged. OIatory was not left out, but there
was not too much OF ID. The FIRST part OF the
program WAS taken mp by an interesting his
torica sketch of the Post prepared aud read by
Commander y. b. lthian. There have been
3 600 names carried on the rods during the
Posts long experience. Past Comnamdor-in-
Chief Burdctt made very effective little
speech. in which be declared hat there was no
politics IN the Grand Army, and that all is enc
mics could not iuject politics into a.. lie liro-
tested that the Grand Army was not RESPONSE
bic for the foolish OF unguarded words q. any
one man any score Of men, and declared that
the Grand Army never had an equal since time
began, and probably never would Wade time
continued TO roll The serOnd part of the eu-
terlainment comprised literary and musical
program Among the talent taking part was
the orchestra from Alhanga's Opera House, Ted
BY Prof Bernay: Prof Dolc. OF The Tony Pas
tor Combination, Mr. Zeh IN ian titIons of
actors, Orpheus Glee Climb. Col. &. G. locliier
in songs, speech by Mr. William Dickson, songs
10y quartcite from the CdTlviOn opera Coln-
pany. and others
Al an early stage of the evenings iun new
clay pipes by the hundred were distributed
among comartles and guests, 80 that FOR the rest
of the evening everybody smoked ppe. Hail
a dozen comrades kept walking about the bali
with large dishes of cut and dry tobaccO. from
which every pipe WAS repirnished whenever
fresh fl WAS needed. Chief Clerk Iweedae,
OF the War Department. and DR.. Baxter the
Chief Medical Puryeyor OF the Army, had TO
smoke the long clay pipe as well as the rest.
" No guilty man was allowed TO escape as
the watchNord seemed 10 he. little side
room WAS stocked To the ceiling with coffee,
sandwiches and light refreshments of various
kinds There were no plas es or any CIVILIAN
nonsense Of thai kind. Every man was sup
Piled with a Tin aud every man had 10 drink
from IL or tell the reason why. When the com
radgs and guests cli the bali carly In the
morning they left the tins hind them, Int
every man took his long clay pipe away with
him, some wearing them M the r bats, while
Others woye them into the buttonholes of their
coats. All agreed that the Post had celebrated
its majority ia fine style. All the officers Of the
Department % Potomac were present, aud be-
side them were many invited guests
RAwLINs POST /, GAR.
Our Rawius Posi-our pei and pride
Has come Of age at last
Aud comrndes round then campfire bide
To gossip DER the past
To tell oi marches. siCgcs. fights,
llumed by Unon sun
OF scorriiing days and dismal nights,
OF battles lost aud won.
Commander Death. with grim delight,
hHs played unwonted pranks,
And nsed iiis autosraiic right
To uecimlte our ranks.
Jusl ohe-nnd-tweuiy years ago,
Those dead we honor most
Were luil 81 life win hearts agiow.
AZ baptism OF our Post
From infancy 20 age we've nursod
THIS suul-iusprng child,
A. ey'ry muster since tne first
Recruitiugcall beEailcd-
And some who struggled on the way
Too weak or OH, a. tramp
Nov haii The plcsei guard 10 say;
We're coming hack Ia camp"
Enlisted ia lhe holy cause
of true, frsstenla love;
To plead for justice, and such laws
n soldiers friends approve;
T. stake the hand Of quoudam foes
Acros- the bridge al strife.
hna tllank The LORD we rank with those
Nho saved the Nations IT,,
WAsnINGroN. d. C.. Oct. a. lss7
PLEASANT OCCASION.
Kit Carson Post, Of this city OBSERVES very
pretty custom of presenting silver spoon TO
every child born TO comrade OF the Post
Recently Or III. A. Robbins the Surgeon of
tne Post, WIS blessed boy the arrival of young
son-his first child. last week The presenia-
made ni h. A large number OF the Post were
present nj Comrade Robbins residence and the
spoon was presented with happy ittie speech
by the Post Commander, Col. Chas. 4. Lincoln.
Past Commander-in-C Chief Burdett GEN Black
and others made speeches aud Mrs Black gave
q recitation.
PRESENTED WITH A BADGE.
james A. Garfield Post, No 2. gave pleasant
surprise 20 Past Commander Weber Monday
.N A hur sad
Army badge. The presentation was made by
Commander St0uder after which Commander
Lincoln. of Post 2, made neat speech c0mpli-
meniary TO the recipient.Of the badge. a col
lation was then served.
OPERATIONS OF TIE SIGNAL CORPS
Gen. a. ~. Greedy, Chief Signal Officer, has
submitted 20 the Secretary of War his annual
report upon the operations Of the Signal Corps
IL Is intended 10 make careful experiments
during the coming yeag with homing pigeons,
aud the Chief Signal Officer has directed that
experiments be made from Key West 10 Cuba
with the expectation based upon the opinion
Of cXprts, that by training these birds in
flights from seward a United States squadron In
the vicinity OF Havana might be enabled 10
communicate rapidly aud certainly with the
naval station at Key West III such fight is
possible from Cuba u could be eventually ex-
tended 10 the Windward Islands even TO
Nassau.
louthlAt NthLhOf lpItfdstN, zen. hfeelV
says: II has been a subject Of complaint that
the indications OF this service have not inn
proved 10 the extent expected Within the
past three or f0ui years the relief of the old
officers detailed from the line OF the army has
been forced upon the Chief Signal officer by
legislative action. ia consequence it followed
that The young officers OF the Signal Corps, who
have only within the past year OF two received
any extended instruction Ia meteorOlagv have
been assigned 10 this important dUty. Within
the past year three officers have necessarily
been assigned % indications work whu never
before have performed duty of this character
IL consequently follows that through restrict
i've legislation the Chief Signal Officer finds
hims II compelled 10 permit the new officers to
serve their apprenticeship Ia predicting at the
expense Of The whole country. Ii has oc-
Cured, AZ might be expected, That the nOyices
~ the work al times made errors that subjected
the service 10 criticism. The general percent
AGES Of successful indications during the year
have been: For weather, 74.5; wind, Gal !:
tenprrituro, 7a.a--a general average Of 739
tbs rerult Is not satisfactory 10 the Chief sig
MAJ Olncer, but the reasons for il have been
stated ns above. OF the cold wave signals sent
out 7s.b i,cr cent were verified"
OUR LAW MAKERS
The Augusta Chronicle says that the Hon.
Simon Cameron is not the oldest surviving
United States Senator ii claims that honor
ioF tAc Hon. john Il, King, of that city, who